Patents Examined by Michael W Hotchkiss
  • Patent number: 11504771
    Abstract: Methods for producing an object by generative manufacturing, a component, and a computer-readable medium. In one method, a sheet-like part is formed with bulges. In another method, a supporting structure is formed with an arch formed by arch segments converging in the buildup direction and meet at an arch tip. In another method, a supporting structure is formed with a strut of a cloverleaf-like cross-sectional shape. In another method, a supporting structure is formed with a sheet-like part connected to the object and formed to project obliquely forward from the object in the buildup direction. In another method, a supporting structure is formed with a sheet-like part extending substantially along the buildup direction, the sheet-like part formed with apertures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Premium Aerotec GmbH
    Inventors: Florian Lehmann, Thomas Mueller, Maureen Harms, Thorsten Schröder
  • Patent number: 11497638
    Abstract: A method of connecting an expansion ring to at least one end of a braided implant, the method including positioning the braided implant about a tube; everting an end portion of the braided implant over a first end of the tube; assembling an expansion ring to the braided implant, the expansion ring being a multi-leaved expansion ring comprising clips terminating with an open-ended coupling opening, wherein the openings are pushed over a set of intersecting wires of the braided implant at respective circumferential locations on or adjacent the first end of the tube; closing the openings over the set of intersecting wire; trimming ends of the braided implant; and reversing eversion of the braided implant thereby positioning the expansion ring internal to the braided implant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: DePuy Synthes Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Pedro Pedroso, Christopher Krier
  • Patent number: 11484392
    Abstract: An abutment is provided with a screw access hole and a slot in its sidewall adapted to allow a driver to access a screw in the screw access hole at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the screw. The abutment may include a screw seat and may be connected to an implant via a screw in the screw seat. A prosthesis, which may include a driver access channel that has a diameter less than the outer diameter of the drive portion of the screw, may be placed over the abutment. Methods of making a dental prosthesis and methods of attaching and removing the dental prosthesis from the implant are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Implant Direct Sybron International LLC
    Inventor: Ines Aravena
  • Patent number: 11466436
    Abstract: A wear part removal system includes a first wedge assembly configured to engage with a first joint associated with a wear part; a second wedge assembly configured to engage with a second joint associated with the wear part; a ram component configured to cause the first wedge assembly to engage with the first joint associated with the wear part and to cause the second wedge assembly to engage with the second joint associated with the wear part; and a frame configured to hold the first wedge assembly, the second wedge assembly, and the ram component. A wedge assembly, of the first wedge assembly or the second wedge assembly, includes a wedge component configured to engage with a joint associated with the wear part and a wedge component saddle configured to hold the wedge component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle R. Wurmnest, Phillip J. Kunz
  • Patent number: 11458641
    Abstract: A method for constructing a robotic arm includes positioning a wire in a formation zone for the robotic arm; and forming a body of the robotic arm in the formation zone around the wire such that the body of the robotic arm encloses at least a portion of the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andrew Crispin Graham, David Scott Diwinsky
  • Patent number: 11459046
    Abstract: A service table for transporting a battery pack comprises four frame members arranged end-to-end in a circuit, four hinges between adjacent frame members, and wheels. The service table further comprises a support bed mounted to at least one of the frame members and configured to support the battery pack. At least one hinge lock is disposed between adjacent frame members and arranged to be rigidly fixed to both of the adjacent frame members in a locked configuration and arranged to be decoupled from at least one of the adjacent frame members in an unlocked configuration. The frame members are arranged in a service configuration having a first width when the hinge lock is arranged in the locked configuration for transporting the battery pack thereon and in a storage configuration having a second width, less than the first width, when the hinge lock is arranged in the unlocked configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Daniel J Popoff, Corey Schlichter, Corday Peterson, Joseph Lee
  • Patent number: 11458071
    Abstract: A torque enhancement device having one or more torque enhancement member(s) with each having an exterior (preferably bi-symmetric or essentially bi-symmetric) surface configuration with parallel, longer side walls extending in a Y-axis direction and shorter side walls extending in an X-axis direction and corner recesses positioned between ends of adjacent longer and shorter side walls, and with some embodiments of the invention featuring a torque enhancement device having a hole extending in a Z-axis direction. A fastener assembly is also provided that includes one or more torque enhancement devices as well as methods for utilization of the torque enhancement device or utilization or assemblage of an assembly including a torque enhancement device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: SCALPAL LLC
    Inventors: Eliot Robert Gitman, Tuvia Gitman
  • Patent number: 11454956
    Abstract: A manufacturing support system may be provided. The manufacturing support system may comprise: an obtaining unit (IO) configured to obtain object data of an object to be manufactured; an artificial intelligence, Al, engine (20) configured to receive the object data as an input and to determine a hardware configuration of a manufacturing system for manufacturing the object with reference to information relating to available hardware for the manufacturing system; and an output unit (60) configured to output the determined hardware configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: OMRON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Akio Sakumiya, Hiroyuki Miyaura, Michie Uno
  • Patent number: 11447270
    Abstract: A track filler may include an elongated body. The body may include a first sidewall having a first top end and a first bottom end, and formed along a first side of the body, a second sidewall having a second top end and a second bottom end, and formed along a second side of the body, opposite the first sidewall, and a topwall joining the first top end and the second top end. The body may form at least a partially hollow interior portion, and may also include a plurality of periodic notches along the first bottom end of the first sidewall and the second bottom end of the second sidewall and extending toward the first top end and the second top end, respectively. The body may also include a plurality of periodic grooves extending partially through the topwall, wherein each of the grooves extend from a notch at the first top end to a corresponding notch at the second top end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Isaac Anthony Chavira, Michael Alexander Szoke, Dana Stephen Klein
  • Patent number: 11447938
    Abstract: A wear part removal system includes a handle, a positioning system configured to control an approach angle of the wear part removal system to a wear part, a clamping system that includes a plurality of clamps and that is configured to clamp the wear part, a contact component configured to contact a portion of the wear part, and a vibrator device configured to generate a vibratory force that is to be transmitted to the wear part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Phillip J. Kunz
  • Patent number: 11447056
    Abstract: A commodity tank support device mounts a commodity tank of a work vehicle on an end portion of a drive axle assembly of the work vehicle. The tank support device includes a main body portion defining an elongate opening extending along an axis of the main body portion and configured to receive the end portion of the drive axle assembly extending through the opening, a first mounting portion defining an axle mounting portion including an axle coupling member configured for selective fastening with a corresponding axle mounting structure on the end portion of the drive axle assembly, and a second mounting portion defining a commodity tank mounting portion of the commodity tank support device including a commodity tank coupling member configured for selective fastening with a corresponding commodity tank mounting structure of the commodity tank of the associated work vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Daniel J. DeBoer, Charles N. Warren, Jeremy P. L'Heureux, Steven A. Duppong
  • Patent number: 11447228
    Abstract: A method includes providing a frame sheet. The method also includes elevating a temperature of the frame sheet to at or above an elevated target temperature. Further the method includes, at or above the elevated target temperature, forming the frame sheet to provide a frame defining a web and at least one flange. Also, the method includes machining at least one of the web or the at least one flange to reduce a thickness of the at least one of the web or the at least on flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Jared L. Bolin, Christopher Tyler
  • Patent number: 11433958
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and multicomponent apparatus for removing and installing a continuous track on a power machine or work vehicle. The system includes a support and biasing apparatus, an arcuate positioning component, a decoupling component, and interconnecting elements. The interacting apparatus and components include contact surfaces that bear against the continuous track surfaces to transfer and/or apply a series of forces, each force in the series comprising at least one of an upward, forward, or lateral force, or combinations thereof, to remove the track from or urge and install a replacement track into proper alignment and captive engagement with front idler and sprocket wheels of a continuous track vehicle wheel assembly. Removal and installation of continuous tracks is hereby achieved in a fraction of the time and with substantially less manpower than previously proposed solutions and methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Inventor: Edgar E Michael
  • Patent number: 11434015
    Abstract: An aircraft engine attachment connecting an attachment body and a primary structure of an aircraft pylon, the engine attachment comprising a shear pin immobilized in translation by a first immobilization system that comprises a shoulder and a removable stop that are integral with the primary structure, between which a flange of the shear pin is immobilized, and a second immobilization system that comprises, first, a groove positioned in an extension of the shear pin and, second, a fork connected to the primary structure via at least one removable link and interacting during operation with the groove in such a manner as to immobilize the shear pin in translation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: AIRBUS OPERATIONS SAS
    Inventors: Jacky Puech, Thomas Deforet, Julien Cayssials
  • Patent number: 11420260
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fabricated object includes forming the fabricated object by laminating metal powder, the fabricated object including an opening portion that communicates with a hollow internal space, mounting a plug in the opening portion, and welding the plug mounted in the opening portion to the fabricated object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Masahiko Mega, Shuji Tanigawa, Masashi Kitamura, Masayuki Ota, Takahisa Hasegawa, Koji Tsukimoto, Hiroki Komuro
  • Patent number: 11414144
    Abstract: A method for producing a vehicle component (10), in which a joint housing (1) is inserted in a predetermined insertion direction (13) into a through-hole (12) of a structural component (11). The insertion of the joint housing (1) into the through-hole (12) in the insertion direction (13) terminates when an stop element (6) of the joint housing (1) abuts against the structural component (11). After the insertion, the joint housing (1) is connected to the structural component (11) in a materially-merged manner. To reduce the complexity and/or the production costs, the method includes the joint housing (1) being inserted into the through-hole (12) with its housing bottom (4) first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Marcel Ahlbrand, Wolfgang Eulerich
  • Patent number: 11406503
    Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed for the optimization of shoulder arthroplasty component design through the use of computed tomography scan data from arthritic shoulders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
    Inventor: John W. Sperling
  • Patent number: 11396900
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a fastener. The fastener includes an elongated body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The fastener also includes a head having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The first end of the elongated body is coupled to the second surface of the head, and a diameter of the head is greater than a diameter of the elongated body. The fastener also includes a sleeve positioned over at least a portion of the elongated body and the second surface of the head. The fastener also includes a plurality of textured elements positioned on an exterior surface of the sleeve adjacent the second surface of the head. One or more of the plurality of textured elements extend from the exterior surface of the sleeve to the first surface of the head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Blake A. Simpson
  • Patent number: 11396036
    Abstract: A lubrication ring for a mechanical expander (1) for sizing large pipes comprises a conventionally manufactured ring (12) made of steel, in particular construction steel. Fluid bores are provided in the ring (12). A part (13) of the lubrication ring (6) is manufactured by an additive manufacturing technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: SMS group GmbH
    Inventor: Sarah Hornickel
  • Patent number: 11389008
    Abstract: A foldable tension spring mattress, wherein a vertical pressure is converted into a tension by means of a wrapping blanket; the tension acts on the periphery of a spring net and is converted into a pulling force acting on coil springs and penetrating springs; and then the pulling force is uniformly dispersed to each of the coil springs, so that the local overstressing of the coil springs and the penetrating springs is avoided, thereby preventing the spring net and the penetrating springs from being arched and sunken. As a result, the mattress may keep good elasticity all the time, which further increases the comfort level of the spring mattress. The present solution may alleviate the plastic deformation of the coil springs to further increase the comfort level of the spring mattress and improve the elasticity and durability of the spring mattress.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Inventor: Bo Nie